Hazell Court

What families say

Families talk about the friendly atmosphere here, where staff take time to explain things properly and keep relatives in the loop. People notice how staff encourage residents to stay active and involved in daily life, whether that's joining in activities or keeping up with everyday routines.

Based on 18 Google reviews · 0 reviews on carehome.co.uk · most recent 2026-04-10

The eight family priority themes

• Staff warmth82
• Compassion & dignity90
• Cleanliness68
• Activities & engagement65
• Food quality60
• Healthcare68
• Management & leadership72
• Resident happiness78

What inspectors found

Inspected 2023-07-28 · Report published 2023-07-28 · Inspected 2 times in the last three years

• Is this home safe?

  Good

  {"found":"The safe domain was rated Good at the July 2023 inspection. This rating covers staffing levels, medicines management, infection control, and how the home responds to incidents and accidents. The published inspection text does not reproduce specific detail about staffing ratios, night cover, or agency use. No concerns were raised that would indicate a safety risk.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"A Good safety rating means inspectors did not identify gaps that put residents at risk, but it does not tell you the specific numbers behind that judgement. Good Practice research consistently identifies night staffing as the point where safety is most likely to slip in a care home, and agency reliance can undermine the consistency of care your dad receives from people who know him. With 55 beds and a dementia specialism, the overnight staffing question matters more, not less. The inspection findings here do not give you that number, so you will need to ask directly.","evidence_base":"The IFF Research and Leeds Beckett University rapid evidence review (2026) found that night staffing levels and agency staff reliance are among the strongest predictors of safety incidents in care homes, and that consistent, familiar staff are particularly important for people living with dementia.","watch_out":"Ask the manager to show you the actual staffing rota for the past two weeks, not the planned template. Count how many shifts were covered by permanent staff versus agency workers, and ask how many carers are on duty overnight for the 55 residents."}

  Verified by inspectorMentioned, not assessed

• Is the care effective?

  Good

  {"found":"The effective domain was rated Good at the July 2023 inspection. This domain covers training, care planning, healthcare access, and nutrition. The home carries a dementia specialism, which means inspectors would have assessed whether staff training and care approaches are appropriate for people living with dementia. No specific training figures, care plan detail, or food observations are reproduced in the available published text.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"A Good rating for effective tells you that inspectors were broadly satisfied with how the home plans and delivers care, but it does not reveal what dementia training actually looks like in practice, how often care plans are updated, or whether families are included in those reviews. Our family review data identifies dementia-specific care as a concern for 12.7% of reviewers, and food quality is mentioned in 20.9% of positive reviews, suggesting mealtimes are one of the first things families notice. The inspection findings here do not give you a picture of mealtimes at Hazell Court, so ask to see the menu and, if possible, time your visit around lunch.","evidence_base":"The Good Practice evidence review found that care plans should function as living documents updated with family input, and that regular, structured GP access is a key marker of effective healthcare in care homes.","watch_out":"Ask to see a sample care plan (anonymised is fine) and ask how often plans are formally reviewed. Then ask: when was the last time a family member was invited to contribute to a review?"}

  Verified by inspector

• Is this home caring?

  Outstanding

  {"found":"The caring domain was rated Outstanding at the July 2023 inspection. This is the highest rating available and is awarded when inspectors find consistent, specific evidence of warm, compassionate, and dignified care. The Outstanding rating in this domain is rare and meaningful. The published inspection summary does not reproduce the specific observations or resident and family quotes that would have informed this rating, but the rating itself reflects a high bar met.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"Staff warmth is the single biggest driver of family satisfaction in our review data, mentioned by name in 57.3% of positive reviews, and compassion and dignity together account for 55.2%. An Outstanding caring rating means inspectors saw the specific behaviours that research and family experience identify as most important: staff who know residents by preferred name, who do not rush, and who respond to distress with patience rather than procedure. For a parent living with dementia, where verbal communication may be limited, this matters enormously. The Good Practice evidence review found that non-verbal communication and person-led interaction are as important as any clinical intervention for people with advanced dementia.","evidence_base":"The IFF Research and Leeds Beckett University review (2026) found that person-led care, where staff know individual histories, preferences, and communication styles, produces measurably better outcomes for people living with dementia than standardised care routines.","watch_out":"During your visit, watch what happens in the corridor when a staff member passes a resident who is sitting alone or appears unsettled. Do staff stop, make eye contact, use the resident's name, and respond without hurry? That unscripted moment tells you more than any planned tour."}

  Verified by inspectorResident testimony recorded

• Is the home responsive?

  Good

  {"found":"The responsive domain was rated Good at the July 2023 inspection. This domain covers how well the home tailors care to individual needs, the quality and range of activities, and how the home handles complaints and end-of-life care. No specific detail about activity programmes, individual engagement, complaint handling, or end-of-life planning is reproduced in the available published text.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"A Good rating for responsive indicates inspectors were satisfied that the home adapts to individual needs, but it does not reveal whether activities are genuinely tailored or whether one-to-one engagement is available for residents who cannot join groups. Our family review data shows that resident happiness is cited in 27.1% of positive reviews, often connected to meaningful activity and engagement rather than passive television watching. Good Practice research identifies individual, Montessori-influenced activities and everyday household tasks as particularly beneficial for people living with dementia, giving a sense of purpose and continuity. The published findings do not confirm whether Hazell Court offers this level of individual engagement.","evidence_base":"The Good Practice evidence review found that group-only activity programmes are insufficient for people with advanced dementia, and that tailored one-to-one engagement, including sensory activities and familiar domestic tasks, significantly improves wellbeing.","watch_out":"Ask the activities coordinator to describe what a typical day looks like for a resident who is unable to participate in group sessions. Can they name a specific activity that resident does individually, and who delivers it?"}

  Verified by inspector

• Is the home well-led?

  Good

  {"found":"The well-led domain was rated Good at the July 2023 inspection. A named registered manager, Mrs Regina Rika Catharina Botha, and a nominated individual, Mrs Rachel Fitton, were both recorded as in post. The home has been inspected twice in total, suggesting a degree of continuity. The published text does not provide detail about management visibility, staff culture, governance systems, or how the home uses feedback to improve.","quotes":[],"family_meaning":"A Good well-led rating means inspectors found the management structure and governance arrangements to be broadly sound. Good Practice research is consistent on this point: leadership stability is one of the strongest predictors of quality trajectory in a care home. A home where the manager is known by name to residents and staff, and where staff feel able to speak up about concerns, tends to sustain its standards over time. Management and communication with families accounts for 23.4% and 11.5% respectively in our positive review data. The inspection findings do not tell you how long the current manager has been in post or what staff turnover looks like, both of which are worth asking.","evidence_base":"The IFF Research and Leeds Beckett University review (2026) found that leadership stability and a bottom-up culture where staff feel empowered to raise concerns are among the most reliable predictors of sustained care quality in care homes.","watch_out":"Ask how long the registered manager has been in post and whether the same person was in place at the previous inspection. Then ask what the staff turnover rate was in the past 12 months, particularly among care staff on the dementia unit."}

  Verified by inspector

Source: CQC inspection report →

What the evidence base says

Against the DCC Good Practice in Dementia Care standards, this home’s evidence aligns most strongly on The home cares for adults both under and over 65, including those living with dementia. They also provide rehabilitation support for people working towards returning home after hospital.. Gaps or open questions remain on While dementia care is listed as one of their specialisms, families haven't shared specific details about the dementia support available here. — areas worth probing directly during a visit.